Archaic Words In The KJV

OOPS , I forgot ...

... to include 3 verses .

62:3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man ?

How long will you assault me ?

62:10 become not vain in robbery

or put vain hope in stolen goods

64:4 They may shoot in secret at the perfect

They shoot from ambush at the innocent

 

Psalm 92-146

92:6 A brutish man

Senseless people

92:10 unicorn

wild ox

97:7 Confounded be all

are put to shame

99:8 their inventions

their misdeeds

101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me

The perverse of heart shall be far from me

107:12 he brought down their heart with labour

he subjected them to bitter labor

107:39 they are minished

their numbers decreased

119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night

124:5 proud waters

the raging waters

135:7 the vapours

the clouds

138:6 the proud he knoweth afar off

he takes notice of the proud from afar

144:7 from the hand of strange children

from the hands of foreigners

146:3 in the son of man

in human beings

 

Thanks for the encouraging words Keith and robycop .

As for the NKJ --- it is a big step forward in terms of clarification -- but it still uses antiquated language and awkward wordings much of the time .

The major revisions of the KJV by Paris and even moreso by Blayney did not reflect the language of the 18th century . James Hervey ( 1713-1758 ) was said to use an English style of the preceding century . But when I read his works I do not sense the distance . Blayney's 1769 revision reflected a much older manner . William Romaine's ( 1714-1795 )writings also were thought to be in a much older form -- but his English is much more understandable to me than the 1769 KJV . John Gill ( 1697-1771 ) used terribly long sentences a great deal , but reading him is much less difficult than reading the KJV .

The ESV uses King James-speak . It deliberately goes retro . It is now the 21st century and people do not speak the way that the ESV communicates . But I find the ESV marginally better than the NASU .

 

Proverbs 1-10

1:32 the prosperity of fools shall destroy them

the complacency of fools will destroy them

2:17 the guide of her youth

the partner of her youth

3:35 shame shall be the promotion of fools

fools get only shame

5:6 her ways are moveable

her paths wander aimlessly

5:14 I was almost in all evil

I was soon in serious trouble

6:26 the precious life

your very life

7:18 let us solace ourslves with loves

let's enjoy ourselves with love !

7:19 the goodman

My husband

7:21 she forced him

she seduced him

9:7 getteth himself a blot

the name of the wicked will rot

10:1 the heaviness of his mother

bring grief to their mother

10:4 that dealeth with a slack hand

Lazy hands

10:10 a prating fool shall fall

a chattering fool comes to ruin

 

Proverbs 11- 14

11:6 transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness

the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires

11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat

A generous person will prosper

12:11 but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding

but those who chase fantasies have no sense

12:16 a prudent man covereth shame

the prudent overlook an insult

12:20 but to the counsellers of peace is joy

but those who promote peace have joy

12:24 but the slothful shall be under tribute

but laziness ends in forced labor

13:7 there is that maketh himself poor

another pretends to be poor

13:8 the poor heareth not rebuke

the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes

13:23 but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment

but injustice sweeps it away

13:24 chasteneth him betimes

are careful to discipline them

14:10 a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy

no one else can share its joy

14:14 a good man shall be satisfied from himself

the good rewarded for theirs

14:15 the prudent man looketh well to his going

the prudent give thought to their steps

14:23 the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury

mere talk leads only toward poverty

14:30 a sound heart

A heart at peace

 

Proverbs 15-19

15:4 perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit

a perverse tongue crushes the spirit

15:24 The way of life is above to the wise

The path of life leads upward for the prudent

15:27 he that hateth gifts shall live

those who hate bribes will live

15:30 a good report maketh the bones fat

good news gives health to the bones

16:10 his mouth transgresseth not in judgment

his mouth does not betray justice

16:26 He that laboureth for himself ; for his mouth craveth it of him .

The appetite of laborers works for them ; their hunger drives them on .

16:30 He shutteth his eyes

Those who wink with their eyes

17:1 an house full of sacrifices

a house full of feasting

17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense

17:26 nor to strike princes for equity

surely to flog officials is not right

18:1 Through desire a man , having separated himself , seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom .

An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and agains all sound judgment starts quarrels .

18:2 his heart may discover itself

delight in airing their own opinions

18:5 accept the person of the wicked

good to be partial to the wicked

18:17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just ; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him .

In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right , until someone comes forward and cross-examines .

18:18 parteth between the mighty

keeps strong opponents apart

19:13 the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping

a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof .

19:26 He that wasteth his father

Whoever robs their father

 

Proverbs 20-22

20:14 It is naught , it is naught .

It's no good , it's no good !

20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man .

Food gained by fraud tastes sweet

20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy , and after vows to make inquiry .

It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows .

20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord , searching all the inward parts of the belly .

The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one's inmost being .

21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness ; but of every one that is hasty only to want .

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty .

21:7 they refuse to do judgment .

they refuse to do what is right .

21:14 and a reward in the bosom strong wrath .

and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath .

21:24 who dealeth in proud wrath .

they behave with insolent fury .

21:28 the man that heareth speaketh constantly .

a careful listener will testify successfully .

21:29 A wicked man hardeneth his face

The wicked put up a bold front

22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye

The generous

22:18 and they shall withal be fitted in thy lips

and have all of them ready on your lips

22:29 he shall not stand before mean men .

they will not serve before officials of low rank .

 

Proverbs 23-27

23:16 my reins shall rejoice

my inmost being will rejoice

23:20 riotous eaters of flesh

gorge themselves on meat

24:11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death

Rescue those being led away to death

24:16 the wicked shall fall into mischief

the wicked stumble when calamity strikes

24:21 meddle not with them that are given to change

do not join with rebellious officials

24:34 and thy want as an armed man

and scarcity like an armed man

25:8 Go forth hastily to strive

do not bring hastily to court

25:10 thine infamy turn not away

may shame you

25:18 a maul

club

26:2 so the curse causeless shall not come

an undeserved curse does not come to rest

26:5 lest he be wise in his own conceit

or they will be wise in their own eyes

26:6 drinketh damage

drinking poison

26:19 Am not I in sport ?

I was only joking !

27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool

you will not remove their folly from them .

 

Proverbs 28-31

28:5 understand not judgment

do not understand what is right

28:11 the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out

one who is poor and discerning sees

28:17 let no man stay him

let no one hold them back

28:20 shall not be innocent

will not go unpunished

28:25 shall be made fat

will prosper

29:10 but the just seek his soul

seek to kill

29:18 Where there is no vision

Where there is no revelation

29:21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant

A servant pampered from youth

29:24 bewrayeth it not

dare not testify

30:11 There is a generation

There are those

30:26 are but a feeble folk

of little power

30:29 comely in going

stately in their stride

30:33 the forcing of wrath

stirring up anger

31:11 he shall have no need of spoil

lacks nothing of value

31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength

She sets about her work vigorously

31:26 in her tongue is the law of kindness

faithful instruction is on her tongue

 

Ecclesiastes

1:8 All things are full of labour

All things are wearisome

1:13 God hath given to the sons of man to be excercised therewith

God has laid on the human race !

4:5 eateth his own flesh

ruin themselves

4:8 there is not a second

(nothing )

5:1 Keep thy foot

Guard your steps

5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business

A dream comes when there are many cares

5:6 thy flesh to sin

lead you into sin

5:20 answereth him in the joy of his heart

God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart

6:2 an evil disease

a grievous evil

7:3 the heart is made better

is good for the heart

7:7 destroyeth the heart

corrupts the heart

7:14 to the end that man should find nothing after him

you cannot discover anything about your future

7:18 shall come forth of them all

will avoid all extremes

7:27 counting one by one , to find out the account

Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things

8:1 the boldness of his face shall be changed

changes its hard appearance

8:6 to every purpose there is time and judgment

there is a proper time and procedure for every matter

10:10 wisdom is profitable to direct

skill will bring success

10:11 a babbler is no better

the charmer receives no fee

12:5 man goeth to his long home

people go to their eternal home

 

Is The Horse Dead Yet ?

Aw Keith , I'm just warming up ! Thanks for the go-ahead Ed .

 

And here I go plowing through

Song Of Songs

1:7 for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions ?

Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends ?

2:2 my love among the daughters

my darling among the young women

2:5 for I am sick of love

for I am faint with love

2:12 [ classic ! ] the voice of the turtle is heard

the cooing of doves is heard

3:8 of fear in the night

the terrors of the night

3:11 in the day of his espousals

on the day of his wedding

4:7 there is no spot in thee

there is no flaw in you

4:9 Thou hast ravished my heart

You have stolen my heart

4:12 A garden enclosed is my sister

You are a garden locked up , my sister

5:2 my undefiled

my flawless one

5:3 I have washed my feet : how shall I defile them ?

I have washed my feet -- must I soil them again ?

5:4 my bowels were moved for him

my heart began to pound for him

5:6 my soul failed when he spoke

My heart sank at his departure

5:9 what is thy beloved more than another beloved , that thou so charge us ?

How is your beloved better than others , that you so charge us ?

6:4 terrible as an army

as majestic as troops

6:9 is but one

is unique

6:10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning

Who is this that appears like the dawn

6:12 Or ever I was aware , my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib .

Before I realized it , my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people .

7:9 causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak

flowing gently over lips and teeth

8:5 I raised thee up under the apple tree

Under the apple tree I roused you

8:7 it would be utterly contemned

it would be utterly scorned

8:13 cause me to hear it

let me hear your voice !

 

Thanks James . I realize that some phrases are not as vague as others . But at times entire verses are quite obscure in the KJV . As I am going along I do appreciate the KJV . But for the last 200 years it has been largely too cumbersome to use if one wants to effectively study the Word of God . I have a number of verses memorized since childhood . But William Tyndale deserves most of the credit , not the KJV revisers . W.T. did the majority of what we have in the New Testament in the KJV . The Geneva , Bishops , and other versions all added their share to the mix as well as the KJV revisers themelves . We don't drive model-T's anymore . Without changing the intent of the original meaning we need to put the Bible into the current language of the audience .

The NIV has been the most popular English version for decades now . Other versions are contributing to the effort of making the Bible even more accurate and understandable . May God continue to bless the struggles of everyone doing translation work in any language .